Railway turn-table



. (No Model.) A 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

vJ. P. CLASS.

RAILWAY TURN TABLE.

No. 352,970. Patented Nov. 23, 1886` Fl r5.1 'f/ l" Ix Gx 1' a' A Jf' 74 g/ 'III' G ,.1/ o i M o Q.

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J. E. CLASS.

RAILWAY'TURN TABLE. No. 352,970. Patented Nov. 2s, 188,6,

ATTE5T NVENTOR.

- run upon the table.

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NITED STATES finition.

PATENT RAILWAY I'I'U RN'TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent lvm-352,970, dated ovember 23, 1886.

Application nien` .nuy as, 1886.

,invented certain new and useful Imp rovements in Railway rIurn-rlables; and I do hereby de- Clare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it ap.- pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to turn-tables for turn ing or shifting railroad engines and cars.

' The leading object of the invention is to produce a turn-table which will, by virtue ofthe Weight of the engine, truck, or ,car run upon it, automatically revolve and turn said engine, truck, or car to any desired track, and when the weight is removed by running the engine, truck, or car oft the table will automatically restore the turntable to its original position. The power to, produce these results is stored by the weight ofthe engine, truck, or car when The invention also includes means for locking the automatic returning or restoring means, so that its power is given -off only as desired It also embodies means for holding the turntable inany desired position in the pit or bed in which it isA placed, whereby the automatic action is held in abeyance until such time as the operator may desire it to be exercised.

It also includes'nleans whereby the action of the springs is suspended, so that a second burden or load can be placed upon the table and revolved by power stored by the preceding load.

Many minor points of action and advantage will appear in the following detailed description.

The accompanying drawings illustrate what I consider the best means for carrying my invention into practice.

Figure l is a side elevation; Fig. 2, a vertical section; Fig. 3, a transverse sectional view on line m a' of Fig. l, looking toward the right. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views ofthe locking-levers.

Similar letters ot' reference indicatev corresponding parts in all lthe gures where they occur.

Serial No. 209,319. (No model.)

A is the circular track or support on which the wheels of the turn-table move. B B represent such wheels placed under each end of the turn-table. f

C Gare the longitudinal framing-pieces of the turn-table, in which the hangers C C are placed to support'wheelsB B. A cross-piece, CX, placed under the framing-pieces G C at about mid-length, bears small rollers CXX CXX, 46o which rest and revolve upon a' table or platform, D, held upon posts d d d d.. Beneath the table D is a plate, E, which has a Worm,

E. The table E Works freely up and down` over the posts Z d, and springs EX tend to keep 65 it elevated. The springs EX are coiled around the posts d cl, and are powerful springs, sufficient by their recoil to turn the turn-table with an engine or truck upon it. A plunger, F, with horizontal roller extensions f f, works in 7o the worm E', the extensions ff bearing'upon the inclines of the worm. This plunger is held at the top in a cross portion or head, GX, of the centrally-pivoted track G. Arms g g, Secured to the sides of this head GX, extend down through extensions or ears on the cross-piece CX, and have coiled springs g g around them, resting between the upper and lower crosspieces CX and GX.

The trackrails G are pivoted at their inner 8o ends to the cross-head GX, andv thel center portion of them is raised and lowered with said cross-head, thus causing the track to assume the position of a double incline when the springs g g recoil. The head of the plunger F is provided with a clutch, as shown at FX, and a corresponding clutch portion, GXX, held in crosshead GX, with liberty to be moved vertically, locks and operates upon the clutch head FX, and prevents it from revolv- 9o ing, thereby causing it, when depressed, to depress the worm E and table E, and conn-` press the springs EK, thus storing power in saidsprings, and causing their recoil to revolve the turn-table by, the pressure of the worm upon the plunger.

I provide a locking lever or levers, H, opf erated by a hand-lever, H', which can be engaged with ears 0r projections'g2 g2 on crosspiece GX, and hold the track down in a hori- Ico zontal position, and prevent the recoil of springs g g', until such time as the operator desires to permit said springs to recoil and turn the turntable backward. I also provide a locking projection, I, which extends beyond the end of the turn-table frame, and engages with openings cut in the sides of the pit to hold the turn-table at any point. rlhis projection is kept in ',normal position for engagement with the openings in the sides of the pit by a spring, t, and is operated by a handlcver, I', to withdraw it from such engage ment. The end of the projection is rounded, so as to work easily in and out of the openings. Both hand-levers H and I are pivoted to the ends of the cross-piece CX, and extend up beside and above the track, so that they can be taken hold of by the engineer or other person on the engine, truck, or car.

The portion G of the clutch may be provided with a lever, by which it can be raised or lowered to engage or disengage the clutchhead1?X of the plunger F. The engagement of these parts not only holds the plunger circularly fixed and insures the rotation of the turn-table when it is released, but it also prevents the elevation of the worm when the turntable is locked in the pit and the burden or load removed from the turntable. The unused power stored in the lower set of springs will be retained and can be used to turn the table with another load upon it. The track-rails, which are pivoted in the head GX, are carried at their outer ends upon trucks or wheels J, which run upon the frame-pieces C. C. The track-rails have slots, which rest over pins j on the trucks J, which give freedom of movement,` to the tracks, and prevent the tracks breaking loose fromthe trucks. The trucks J are connected to the cross-head by braces J X, which cause said trucks to be moved back and forth upon the pieces C C without straining the connection between the rails and trucks. The braces J have projections jx, which rest under the cross-ties of the track,

and not only help to stiften the track,but also insure the proper movement of the trucks.

The armsggnot only serve as holders for the` springs, but also cause the track to be held steady.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent 1s 1. A turn-table having springs compressed by the weight of the engine, truck, or car to turn the turn-table with the burden upon it,

and a second set of springs also compressed by the weight of the engine, truck, or car for restoring the table to its normal position when the burden is removed.

2. A turn-table having a track centrally pivoted to a cross-head and springs on the side to elevate the centralportion of the track when the burden is removed.

3. In a turn-table, the combination,with theworm and the plunger working therein, of the centrally-pivoted track and springs for elevating its central portion, as set forth.

4. In a turn-table, the combination,with the Worm, of the plunger working therein, centrally-pivoted track having the head of the plunger held within it, and springs, as described, for raising the center of the track, as set forth.

5. In aturntable, the combination,with the worm, ofthe plunger working therein having a clutch on its upper end to be operated as described,a centrally hinged or pivoted track, and springs for elevating the same.

6. In a turn-table, the combination,with the worm, plunger, centrally-pivoted track, and springs for elevating it, of a locking-lever for holding the track down.

7. In a turntable, the combination of the worm mounted upon springs, the plunger working in said worm and having the clutch at its top, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a turntable, the combination,with the worm,1 lite to which it is attached, the posts on which the plate Works up and down,andsprings surrounding said posts, of the plunger working in the worm and connected to a depressible track above, as set forth.

9. The combination of the centrallypivoted y lhinged or pivoted track, of` the trucks J and braces J X, as set forth. Y

12. `'Ihe combination of the turntable, having means for automatically rotating it, and a springactuated bolt for engaging the sides of the pit in which the table revolves.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN F. CLASS. Vitnesses:

J. W. WniTMER, D. O. MYERS.

IOO 

